Computing is driving economic growth and societal change, and the field of computer science is underpinning these advances. It is clear that ensuring quality K-12 computer science education is crucial to America’s competitiveness in the 21st Century. However, too few students have the opportunity to take engaging and rigorous computer science in K-12, and there is little diversity among those who do. Professional development for would-be or in-service teachers is inadequate. These are national failings – and ones the country can ill afford – as computing is central to our competitiveness in the global marketplace and our long-term economic growth.
Legislative Highlights
The Computer Science Education Act is needed to help catalyze reform in the states. The legislation would accomplish this through:
Planning Grants - For states to work with stakeholders to assess their computer science offerings in K-12 and develop concrete steps to make them stronger
Five Year Implementation grants for states, in partnership with local districts an institutions of high education to carry out state plans by
Developing state computer science standards, curriculum, and assessments;
Improving access to underserved populations; developing professional development and teacher certification programs
developing on-line courses
Ensuring computer science offerings are an integral part of the curriculum
A blue-ribbon commission to review the national state of computer science education and bring states together to address the computer science teacher certification crisis
Computer science teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education.
Independent, rigorous evaluation of state programs - funded under this Act with reporting back to Congress and the Administration
This legislation is supported by Computing in the Core, which is a new coalition formed to raise the national profile of K-12 computer science education. Its members are major stakeholders in the field of computing ranging from industry – Microsoft, Google, Intel and SAS – to non-profit organizations, including the Association for Computing Machinery, Computer Science Teachers Association, National Center for Women and Information Technology, Computing Research Association, and the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
We are united in our commitment to improving computer science education and seeking the Computer Science Education Act’s inclusion in reforms to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The Computer Science Education Act
Strengthening K-12 Computer Science Education
Background
Computing is driving economic growth and societal change, and the field of computer science is underpinning these advances. It is clear that ensuring quality K-12 computer science education is crucial to America’s competitiveness in the 21st Century. However, too few students have the opportunity to take engaging and rigorous computer science in K-12, and there is little diversity among those who do. Professional development for would-be or in-service teachers is inadequate. These are national failings – and ones the country can ill afford – as computing is central to our competitiveness in the global marketplace and our long-term economic growth.Legislative Highlights
The Computer Science Education Act is needed to help catalyze reform in the states. The legislation would accomplish this through:
This legislation is supported by Computing in the Core, which is a new coalition formed to raise the national profile of K-12 computer science education. Its members are major stakeholders in the field of computing ranging from industry – Microsoft, Google, Intel and SAS – to non-profit organizations, including the Association for Computing Machinery, Computer Science Teachers Association, National Center for Women and Information Technology, Computing Research Association, and the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
We are united in our commitment to improving computer science education and seeking the Computer Science Education Act’s inclusion in reforms to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Text for S.1614 - Computer Science Education Act